Loose-leaf binder.



G. C. LUTZ.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. 1915.

1,18%,547. Patented May 23, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1| i Z 46' m 4Z2 /4 1 5 m G. C. LUTZ.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. I915.

1,184,547. Patented May 23,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE ICOLUMBIA PLANOGRAFH .CD" WASHINGTON. ,0. C.

FFIQEQ GILBERT G. LUTZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916..

Application filed March 20, 1915. Serial No. 15,739.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GILBERT C. Ln'rz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chlcago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois,

great expansion of the covers. 1

Heretofore it has been a common practice to employ telescopic projecting pins or posts carried by the clamp plates to which the covers are hinged and to employ ledger sheets having notches which are adapted to receive the telescopic posts. In that type of loose leaf binder, the sheets are held solely by clamping action of the clamp plates on the stack of sheets and a relatively great pressure is necessary, particularly when the number of sheets is large.- To obtain the requisite pressure, it has been a common expedient to employ links, usually arranged as toggles, connecting the clamp plates (or sides of binder) and expanded or contracted by a screw. In that type of loose leaf ledger binder, should the bookkeeper or person handling the ledger fail to sufficiently tighten the cover clamp plates, a slight jar in handling the ledger would cause the sheets to drop out of the binder and necessitate laborious and time-consuming reassortment and securement. Another disadvantage of the type of loose leaf ledger binder employing posts and open notched sheets has been that it becomes necessary to add blank pages to the sheets representing accounts provided there are not enough account sheets to fill up the binder when the side wall clamp plates are in their most contracted condition. On the other hand, there has existed a serious disadvantage when the binder is expanded to take in a maximum number of sheets because, when the clamp plates are tightened, there is a tendency toward bulging in the center of the stack of leaves, with loosening and danger of falling out.

The foregoing disadvantages incident to the type of loose leaf ledger binder on which my present invention is an improvement, have arisen from the fact that the leaves are open notched and are held solely by compression. My present improvements obviate these disadvantages by dispensing with the means that causes them and by the provlslon of improvements in the posts and operatmg means therefor as supplementary to the old style compression holding means with the result that the leaves are not necessarily held by compression, but are retained by my improved expanding posts and the loose leaf ledger binder employs the compression devices as an auxiliary to hold the sheets in compact form, without, however, interfering wlth the rapld and easy insertion or removal of any sheet or sheets desired.

With my invention, it is possible to place any number of sheets in the binder while it is in its contracted or minimum condition and the sheets can be held by my improved posts Without requiring the extreme pressure heretofore necessary.

Another advantage of my invention is that when the ledger is being used on a desk for reference, it is not necessary that the clamp plates exert a heavy compression on the ledger sheets but, on the contrary, the compression may be entirely relieved so that matters on the sheets which are located near the binding or bound portion thereof can be readily examined, or, any sheet can be picked out and any necessary work done on it and then it can be dropped back into place and the leaves relocked.

Another advantage flowing from my invention is that by reason of the form of notches employed in the ledger sheets, any sheet or sheets can be partially displaced and re-locked by the improved posts I have devised, so that the projection of the sheet or sheets will preserve the place in the ledger where the bookkeeper or clerk was working, without interfering with the locking of all of the sheets.

My invention is carried out by the provision of improved split or duplex posts carried by the clamping plates of the binder and operating means whereby said improved posts may be expanded or contracted to lock or release the ledger sheets regardless of the number of sheets which are in the ledger binder. My invention is index tray to take the place of rods and preferably carried out 011 a loose leaf ledger binder having clamping plates and com pression means so that a suitable compression may be given the stack of leaves or sheets, after they have been locked by my improved posts, to thereby hold the sheets in compact condition. I

I am aware that my invention can be carried out, without resorting to compression means, in connection with cards in a card other card locking devices which have heretofore been commonly employed for that purpose. I. am also aware that the invention is susceptible of modification within the spirit and scope thereof and I claim modifications falling within the general inventive plan.

In the accompanying drawings :Figure 1 is a front elevation, parts being broken away, and the covers being omitted, of a loose leaf binder embodying my invention;

Fig. 2, a bottom view thereof, partly broken away; Fig. 3, a vertical section through Fig. 1, the back being broken away; Fig. 4, a detail perspective of my improved split locking posts; Fig. 5, a plan view thereof with the upper slide and post removed; Figs. 6, 7 8 and 9, detail views of the different posts; Fig. 10, a detail of the rocker which connects the slides; Fig. 11, a detail View of a sheet or leaf which is used With my improvements; and Fig. 12, a detail of a sheet or leaf having old type of slot on each end and my improved slots in the central portion.

'My improvements when embodied in a loose leaf ledger binder are preferably used inconnection with clamp plates employing screw-actuated compression links and I have illustrated the improvements as combined with that type of binder. The clamp plates are shown at 1 and 2 and the back at 3. As usual, the back 3 carries the compression means and the clamp plates 1 and 2 are movable in relation thereto. The compression means may be of a well known type consisting of a screw 4 mounted in suitable bearings 5 011 the back 3 and provided with a squared end 6 for the application of a key by which the screw can be turned. Collars 7 havea screw-threaded engagement with the screw 4 and connected thereto'are links or toggles 8 which are pivoted to clamp plates 1 and 2. When the screw 4 is turned one way, the clamp plates 1 and 2 move toward each other and when turned in the opposite direction, they expand in relation to each other. Telescopic posts 9 have their parts carried by the plates 1 and 2 and are adapted to enter the notches in the ledger sheets. The covers, not shown, are connected to the clamp plates 1 and 2 by hinge members or eyes 10 of which there may be as many as desired.

the slides 11 and 12 move.

The construction. thus specifically described is old and well-known and constitutes a part of my invention only in that it represents broadly compression means for holding sheets in compact arrangement in a loose leaf binder wherein my improvements, now to be described, constitute the locking means for the sheets. I wish it understood, however, that except where specified in the claims, I do not limit myself to the use of compression means. If the invention is carried out in a card index for looking cards in a tray, or filing cabinets for vertical ledger sheets, etc., no compression means would be required.

Extending longitudinally of, and slidably carried by, the clamp plates 1 and 2 are channel slides 11 and 12 which have slots bled condition and in assembled condition in Figs. 1 and 4. As many of the split posts could be employed as desired and corresponding notches provided in the ledger sheet, Figs. 11 and 12, but in the present instance I have shown but two complete split locking posts to engage two notches in the ledger sheet. The slides, 11 and 12 each carry one member of each ofthe locking posts. Slide 11 carries the post sections 15 and 16, Figs. 6 and 8, and slide 12 the post sections 17 and 18, Figs. 7 and 9. Aconvenient manner of attaching the sections of the posts to the slides 11 and 12 is by means of lugs or tenons 19 passed through corresponding mortises in the slides and headed down. Particularly if the post sections are made of stampings, is this manner of fastening desirable. The post sections, as de scribed, are bodily carried by and bodily movable with the slides 11 and 12. Ger: tain of the post sections, as for instance, sections 15 and 18, are provided withstruckup hooks 20 which engage the inner or con tiguous edges 21 of the clamp plates 1 and 2 so as to be adapted to slide thereon when These parts 20 not only brace the post sections 15 and 18, but they assist in slidably mounting, for free movement, the slides 11 and 12 on the clamp plates 1 and 2, as is more particularly shown in Fig. 3.

WVhen the slides 11 and 12 are properly adjusted, the post sections 16 and 18 are collapsed with their ofi-set portions 22 and 23 lying flat against each other, and their beads 24 and 25 contracted sufliciently so that they can be entered into or withdrawn from the necks 26 of the notches in the ledger sheet 27, Fig. 11,.so that any or all of the ledger sheets can be inserted or removed. The notches 28 are sufficiently large to freely receive the telescopic posts 9 at all times. Such posts provide means whereby the sheets may be readily positioned in the binder. When the slides 11 and 12 are relatively moved, the beads 24 and 25 are expanded and they may then be made to enter the widened portion 29 of the notch. The post sections 15 and 17 are provided with angularly arranged parts 30 and 31 having beads 32 and 33 which are adapted to collapse and expand as are the post sections just described and to cooperate with the neck 26 and widened portion 29 of another notch in the sheet 27. To cause the slides 11 and 12 to move in opposite directions and so that the slide 11 will be actuated by the slide 12, there is provided a rocker 34, Fig. 10, which is pivoted at 35 to a bracket 36 carried by the back 3 and carries pins 37 at its ends which engage the walls of slots 38 and 39 in the post sections 16 and 18. Secured to the slide 12 is an internally screwthreaded bracket 40 which is engaged by a screw-threaded adjusting rod 41 which is suitably mounted to turn in a bearing 42 carried by the end of binder 2 and has a squared end 43 to receive a key for turning said screw 41.

If the posts are collapsed, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the beads are so arranged that the portions 26 of the notches in the ledger sheet 27, Fig. 11, afford free entry for removal of the sheet. The parts 28 always permit the accommodation of the posts 9 when the binder is not under compression. Any sheet or sheets may be removed and by turning the screw 41, the split posts 15,16, 17 and 18 may be expanded so that the beads 24, 25, 32, 33 will enter the widened portions 29 of the notches, thus locking the remaining sheets. Under such conditions the heavy compression of which the clamping plates 1 and 2 are capable under the influence of screw 4, need not be resorted to, as the split posts lock the sheets and consequently, the sheets can be inspected without danger of their falling out, even though the compression action of the plates 1 and 2 is not resorted to. At the same time, a few turns of the screw 41 will contract the split posts and enable sheets to be removed and the remaining sheets can be quickly re-locked, these acts being carried on while the ledger is in use. Furthermore, any desired number of sheets may be placed in the binder when it is in its contracted condition and the sheets locked without requiring the extreme pressure or, in fact, any pressure heretofore necessary. 7

My invention enables the bookkeeper or other person using the ledger to keep the sheets in loosely assembled and yet locked condition, permitting close inspection of the inner or notched parts of the leaves without danger of the leaves coming out; it obviates danger of displacement of the leaves should the user not tighten the compression mechanism enough; it enables the ledger to be locked and unlocked quickly and with this invention the sheets which are being used can be laterally displaced and still locked by the use of one or the other of the notches 28 which will then engage one set or the other of the split posts, by which expedient the user can retain the desired place in the ledger while temporarily leaving it.

I do not limit myself to the employment of the notches 28, but prefer to use these notches, as well as the ones designated 29 which are usually engaged by the split posts, as by this expedient the sheet can be partially displaced and still locked, as just set forth. I may, however, use the ordinary notch commonly employed to engage the posts 9, as shown at 283 Fig. 12.

The expanding mechanism may be controlled or operated by a Yale key in place of the usual handle for the purpose of turning the operating screw and also locking it, when desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a loose leaf hinder, the combination of relatively movable clamp plates, com pression means therefor, and laterally expansible and contractible individually split or two-part locking posts both parts of each two-part post being movable and adapted for engaging notches in the leaves or sheets.

2. In a loose leaf hinder, the combination of relatively movable clamp plates, projecting pins or posts carried by said plates, compression means for said plates for moving them toward or away from each other, and laterally expansible and contractible individually split or two-part locking posts adapted for engaging notches in the leaves or sheets.

3. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of relatively movable clamp plates, means carried by the loose leaf binder adapted for moving said plates toward or away from each other, and laterally expansible and contractible individually split or two-part looking posts, the relatively movable parts of each two-part post being carried by the clamp plates and being movable therewith to relatively expand or contract With said clamp plates, the parts of each two-part post being adapted for lateral expansion or contraction for the engagement of notches in leaves or sheets held by said binder.

4. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of relatively movable clamp plates, means for moving said plates toward or away from each other, a back, laterally expansible and contractible locking posts Whose relatively movable parts are carried by the clamp plate and are adapted to relatively expand or contract with said clamp plates, connecting means carried by the back which is operatively connected to the laterally expansible and contractible locking posts to cause the members thereof on the respective clamp plates to laterally expand or contract in unison, and means for eifecting lateral expansion or contraction of said locking posts.

5. I11 a loose leaf binder, the combination of relatively movable clamp plates, means for moving said plates toward or away from each other, a back, laterally expansible and contractible locking posts whose relatively movable parts are carried by the clamp plate and are adapted to relatively expand or contract with said clamp plates, a rocker pivoted to the back and having aslot-and-pin connection at its opposite ends with the sections of the laterally expansible and contractible locking posts carried by the clamp plates, and means for effecting lateral expansion or contraction of said locking posts.

6. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of relatively movable clamp plates, means for moving said plates toward or away from each other, slides mounted 011 the respective clamp plates, laterally expansible and contractible locking posts whose relatively movable parts are bodily carried by and shiftable with the slides aforesaid, and means for shifting said slides to laterally expand or contract said locking posts.

7. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of relatively movable clamp plates, means for moving said plates toward or away from each other, slides mounted on the respective clamp plates, laterally expansible and contractible locking posts whose relatively movable parts are bodily carried by and shiftable with the slides aforesaid, a back, an inter-connecting device for the slides, said device being carried by the back, and means for shifting one of the slides to laterally expand or contract the locking posts.

8. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of relatively movable clamp plates, means carried by the loose leaf binder adapted for moving said plates toward or away from each other, laterally expansible and contractible individually split or two-part looking posts whose relatively movable parts are carried by the clamp plates and which have guides slidably engaged with a portion of the clamp plates, each part of each two-part post being movable toward and away from the other part of that post and means for effecting lateral expansion or contraction of said locking posts by causing them to slide in relation to the clamp plates.

9. In a loose leaf binder, the combination of relatively movable clamp plates, means for moving said plates toward or away from each other, slides mounted on the respective clamp plates, laterally expansible and contractible locking posts whose relatively movable parts are bodily carried by and shiftable with the slides aforesaid, said locking posts having guides which are slidably engaged with a portion of the clamp plates, an operative inter-connection between the slides, and means for moving the slides to laterally expand or contract the locking posts.

10. In a locking device for leaves or cards, laterally expansible and contractible individually split or two-part locking posts, whose respective sections are movable toward and away from each other, and'means for laterally expanding or contracting said posts.

11. In a locking device for leaves or cards, laterally expansible and contractible individually split or two-part locking posts having a body and a locking portion arranged angularly thereto, and means for laterally expanding or contracting said posts.

12. In a locking device, for leaves or cards,

the combination of slides, laterally expan-' sible and contractible individually split or two-part locking posts whose relatively movable parts are bodily carried by and shiftable with the slides aforesaid, and means for shifting said slides to laterally expand or contract said locking posts.

13. In a locking device for leaves or cards, the combination of slides, laterally expansible and contractible locking posts whose relatively movable parts are bodily carried by and shiftable with the slides aforesaid, an interconnection between said slides whereby they are adapted to move in opposite directions, and means for shifting one of the slides to laterally expand or contract said locking posts. 7

14:. In a locking device for leaves or cards,

the combination of slides, laterally expansible and contractible locking posts whose relatively movable parts are bodily carried by and shiftable with the slides aforesaid, said posts having a body and a locking portion arranged angularly thereto, the locking portions of the post sections being adapted to come together side by side, and means for shifting said slides to laterally expand or contract said posts.

GILBERT o. LUTZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, 1L0. r 

